Tape-liner.



H. M. RAND.

TAPE LINE, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1,1918.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

wfinesses Harry M.Rand

HARRY M. enn, or KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

TAPE-LINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7,1919.

Application filed March 1, 1918. $eria1lbl'o.219,862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY M. RAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of \Vyandotte and State of Kansas, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Tape -Lines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tape lines, and is in the nature of an attachment for the ring or eye thereof, whereby the end of the tape line may be secured at a determined point and the line thereafter unwound, thus obviating the employment of two hands in making measurements, and also obviating the necessity of the employ ment of separable means for securing the end of the tape line, and the inconveniences incident thereto.

The object of the invention is to provide upon the eye of a tape line a swiveled screw or entering member which is normally re ceived in and locked to the eye, which, when swung at a right angle with respect to the eye may be readily inserted at the place where the end of the tape line is to be held.

It is a further object of the invention to produce a tape line holder which shall be of an extremely simple construction, comparatively cheap to manufacture, and which may be attached to any ordinary tape line.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement. i

Fig. 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the holding pin or screw being swung to operative position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. a

Fig. 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 4.4 of Fig. 2.

The tape line is indicated by the numeral 1, the same having secured at its outer end a metallic eye 2. e

The eye comprises a substantially rectangular frame having its sides formed with inwardly extending lugs 3. The outer memher of the eye, upon the inner edge thereof is approximately centrally provided with a notch 4:.

The lugs 3 are formed of bendable metal, and are adapted to be bent angularly with respect to the frame so that the said lugs may be arranged opposite diametrically opposed openings in a sleeve 6. y

The holding member is in the nature of a thumb screw 7, the shank 8 of which has its outerend provided with screw threads 9. The shank has a continuous groove 10. When the lugs 3 are in their bent position and slightly received in the openings in the sleeve, the shank 8 is passed through the sleeve. Thereafter the pivot members 3 are returned to their straight position, being forced into the sleeve 8 and into the groove 10, thus associating the elements comprising the device. The head of the thumb screw is indicated for distinction by the numeral 11, and from the outer end thereof has a centrally arranged depression or pocket 12 within which is arranged a pin 13 that has its outer and rounded end projecting through the said opening by a spring 14. The numeral 15 designates a stop member in the nature of a pin that passes transversely through the head 7 and through the opening in which the latching pin 13 is received. The latching pin 13 is provided with an elongated slot or opening 16 through which the stop pin passes. The stop pin, when in contact with either of the end walls of the slot or opening 16 limits the movement of the latching pin in both an inward and an outward direction with respect to the head 7.

The thumb screw is of a size to be snugly received in the ring when not in use, and when in such position the pin 13 will be received in the notch or depression 4 of the ring so that the thumb screw is thus locked v in the ring. A pressure upon either side of the head of the thumb screw will cause the pin 13 to be retracted against the tension of its spring so that the thumb screw may be swung angularly with respect to the ring. The swiveled connection between the sleeve 6 and the shank of the thumb screw permits of the said thumb screw being turned in the sleeve so that the entering point of the screw may be embedded in the ground sur face, article or other device to which the end of the tape line is to be attached.

From the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings it will be noted that my device may be attached to the end of any ordinary spring wound or other tape line; and that the same may be easily and quickly attached to the surfaces to be measured and it is believed that the simplicity and advantages of the construction will be apparent without further description.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with the end of a tape line having an eye thereon, a sleeve having oppositely disposed pivot members entering the bore thereof and their outer ends journaled in the eye, a thumb screw having its shank received in the sleeve and its said shank provided with a continuous groove receiving the ends of the pivots, and a spring pressed pin carried by the thumb screw and designed to contact with the eye to hold the thumb screw in the eye, when the said screw is swung to such position.

2. In combination with a tape line, a suband having a notch at the inner wall of the outer end thereof, a sleeve between the lugs, pivot members passing through the lugs an d entering the sleeve, a thumb screw having its shank provided with a continuous groove received in the sleeve and receiving the pivots, a spring pressed pin having an outer rounded end in the head of the thumb screw, means for limiting the outward movement of the pin, said pin being designed to engage in the notch of the ring when the thumb screw is swung inwardly.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY M. RAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0. 

